Universal joint



" Dec. 2l 1926.

Filed April 5. 1925 2 sheets-sheet 1 L l I n A TTORNEV R. CHILTON UNIVERSAL JOINT Dec? 21 192e. 1,611,160

Filed April s, -1925 :a'snets-snee1 Patented pee. '2l-,19269.

UNrrEn STATES l 11,611,160y PArENroFi-ica I ROLAND CHILTON, oF-KEYPQET, NEW JERSEY, AssIGNoE'To HEALEY-AEROMABINE v Bus coMPANY, INC., A coEroEA'rIo'N 0E NEW Yoan.

' UNIVERSAL JOINT.

Application led April 3, 1925. Serial NQ. 20,528.- i

This invention is intended to'be of general application whereipower'has to 'be translnitted between two rotary members having their axes intersecting at substantial angles, 5 and comprises more specifically, improvements in the method of'l applying power to steerable vehicle wheels. The invention features improvements in a type .of universal joint having'a pair of intermediate members pivoted together transaxia-lly of axes of n oscillation with a driving and a driven memi ber respectively.

In such constructions, the condition of constant velocity ratio between the driving and ,driven member is satisfied when the intermediate members rotate in a plane bisectinglie angle between vthe-shaft axes.

In some of/theQtypeof `the.prior art the n axes of articulation4 Vof the intermediate members to the driving and driven shafts respectively are coaxial, and a special means .for restraining the intermediate members toan angular position midway between the driving and the driven member is then oscillation between 'the intermediate members and the driving and driven members be spaced apart axially of the latter'and these members be supported for `.intersection of 3 their axes substantially midway between these separated-axes, then the intermediate members will be restrained to the desired midway position without lrecourse .to other controlling means and this is one of the primary objects ofthe invention. i Another object of this invention is' to provide a universaljoint which willconnecty the `drivingr and .driven members againstv separation under substantial axial loads. To this end-the intermediate members may be made rigid axially of the .joint so that they de-ne the spaced apart position of the driving and]4 driven members. It will be seen lthat this construction involves a slight approach of the'driving and driven member n pivot axes during orientation of thefinter mediate members 'to an angular position. It

is necessary to restrain the members to axial in housings connectedfor rela-tiveoscillation about a fixed center, this slight app'roach'of connected shafts are Irestrained axially by l 'Tbearing mountings, the two sides of each innecessary; If on the yetherl hand, the axes of intersection substantially atthe center line-- the pivot axes when the jointv moves to'an angular position is difficult topprovide for,

since the tendency of such' bearings is to combat the natural action of the joint in causing thissslight variation in distance'be`ll tween the pivotaxes and the pointof intersection.

In certain known types of joint where the termediate member have been relatively pivoted and a ball or similar type of jointpro-J vided to articulately connect these two intermediate members together sothat the joint was flexibleffor axial extension. This double pivoting complicates '-the construction and prejudices the durability ofthe joints by l cuttingthe available bearing surface two offset portions. l

Another one` of the prime objects of this invention, therefore, is to avoid these dis- I advantages, and accordingly the.l interme- 7 5 diate members are each im'one rigid and rugged piece well adapted 'tomaintain the shafts against end displacement, while the shafts are supported for intersection substan`tially at,/thefcenterofv the joint by im-v proved means forminga part 'of this invention, which means permit the shafts the necessary axial freedom to follow. the axial location imposed by the rigid intermediate members.- n v It will be seen that by the construction herein disclosed, the combination of a relatively rugged and Ysimple connection fr' restraining the shafts to axial intersection at into the desired point with an axial separation "trol of the intermediate members, -an'd thus the separate jointed control members of the prior art are avoided.

It will be furtheriseen that, by connecting the` shaftsfor axial intersection within thel joint by a means permitting such axial displacement as is imposed by theintermediate members, these may be made of simpleand` 10W more ruggedconstructionYthan is possible where the necessary axia1'`-freedom is' -ob tained Iby additional articulation withinv these members.

Further objects'of the invention are to 105 provide .a joint suited to extremely large j angles and yhaving large bearing'surfaces and one which vwill at the same time. contain few parts of relatively small'o'ver-'all size and also'to facilitate assembly, y. l 10 -ried out in a preferred manner by utilizing a constrction wherein these bushings are ruggedly mounted in the members without recourse to a two-piece construction for purposes of introducing the parts into assembled relation as will be more fully described hereinafter. f.

Various 'other objects and advantages ot the invention will' be in part apparent from d rawings.

an inspection of the accompanyin` and in part will be more fully set forth in the following particular description of one form embodying my invention` and. the in-` vention also consists in certain new an d novel features 'of construction and combination of parts hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In the'drawings Figure 1 is'a Jfragmentary vertical section of a vehicle driving wheel mounted for rotation on outer and inner spaced apart bearings, and illustrates theimproved form et universal Vjoint in aposition wherein the driving and driven members are disposed coaXially. ,f v

Figure 2 is a horizontal section'similar to vthat of Fig. 1 and shows the driving member disposed approximately at 45 degrees to the axis of the driven member.

Figure 3 is a sectional view in the same plane as that of Fig. 2 and illustrates an alternative mounting for the driven mem- Figure 4 is a' partly sectional view showing a trunnion on the drive shaft and the manner in which the bushing is secured in its bore. i

Figure 5 is a plan view of Fig. 4.

Figure 6 is a detail view of the ring which secures the bushing.

' In the present instance with referenceto Figs. 1 and 2, .10 designates a wheel hub housing provided with steering pivots 11, 12,"

by which the housing is supported from, the

' Mounted for rotation within the bearings 13,14`is'the wheel hub 15. A' wheel disc 16 is secured tothe h ub in any suitable manneigbu-t preferably by the spline connection iently referredc to `.17 and the bolts'18. These two members i fa bifurcated2 member -20 secured against end motion by suitable shoulders and mounted in a rotationallv freemanner so as to permit a slight` os illation of this member which ma;1 occur ue'to vari ationsin velocity ratio.

Secured within the hub 15in an oscillatory manner is an intermediate member 22 having trunnions 23 journalled in the'hub and ex,

tending diametrica-lly thereof, which connection I will designate as connection (a.)

A second intermediate member 24 having trunnions 25 is secured to the first 'mentioned member 22 in a manner so as to perxnitrelative oscillation. the trunnions 25 being journalled in suitable bearings such as shown iu Fig. 5 which will be lmore 't'ully described hereinafter. The connection between these two intermediate members (connection b) is disposed traiisaxially ot' the connection (er).

lVithin the second intermediate member 24 there are journalled the cross pins 26 ot there is secured by means ot a pin 30., aix block 32 which is mounted for rotational freedom. The block ,32 isA `fitted so aste slidably engage-the avvs 31 of the bifurcated member 20, and it should'be noted that the axis of the pin 30 is normally approximately central between the connections (a) and (c).

It will thus be seen that the.` axial intersectionot the driving and driven members will be restrained during operation to be substantially at the center of vthe joint for .the purpose hereinbetore stated; also that the block 432 by reason of its slidingengagcment with the jaws of the bifnrcated member 20' will permit such slight axial displacement of the ate members due to their'various angular positions during operat1on,

lIt will be seen that the gimbal ring structure shown supports the drive shaft against sideways displacement. in the plane of the spaced apart articulations of the driving and drivenmembers, butth'at itatfords no such support 'against translation-normal to this plane. In other words, the gimbal ring holds the drive shaftrigid for intersection in the plane of Fig. 1 but not in the plane of Fig.

' 2.l Accordingly, this invention includes such special means as the' fork and'block shown and described for the support. of the shafts for intersection in this last said plane which means is preferably flexible' as to the pr(`-v viol'lsly mentioned .plane oi.A intersection. se that there will be-no damage from confiicting action between the joint and the vsu pporting means such as might be caused by possible inaccuracies in the parts. The'v preferred construction accordingly, features the pin 30 in the drive shaft 27 disposed parallel drive shaft as is imposed by` the intermedil of, adriving member, aA

to the axis'ofconnection (c) and the block 32 pivotedeto' this pin and engaging for tally constitutes a small andv crude type of.

universal joint of a character, however, which does ngt have constant velocity ratio.V In operation a slight oscillation will occur. atl, this point, due to `the vari'ationsin velocity ratio f in the shaft anchoring structure and for this reason the member 20 is mounted in a rotationally Jfree manner. i

vIn Figs. 3, 4, 5, and 6 there is shown-the manner in which the, integral trunnions or -p'ins 26 of lonememberI can be entered into' the bores of the other member'. without. ,resorting to a twb-piece construction. 'With reference to Fig; 3 the cross pins 26 are prfeil erablyT provided with hardened and ground liners, 34. The member 24 (Fig. 5) is bored to the diameter of the bushings 35 and has a side opening 36 which is of lesser diameter than the bore, but wide enough to pass` the pins 26- with -their associated liners 34. After the pins 26 with their associated liners 34 havevbeen introduced through the open-i ing 36, the bushings 35 are y slipped axially over .the pins 26 which will prevent vthe .pins from being withdrawn through said opening'.

The bushings 35 are provided with a vcircumferential recess`37 which registers with a, similarrecess formed in themember 24,

into 'which recesses fa spring ring 38 4is introduced to retainithe parts in assembled r,e

Thus the integral trunnions'or pins of one memberl can be 'entered into the bores offthe other member sideways'of the trunnion axes l and then' positively assembled into position by the axialintroduction of the/bushings,

which are rmly embraced by the engaging their circumference.

Variations may be resorted to within the -memberv over substantially more than half scope of the. invention and portionsl gof' the -Having thus improvements vmay' be usedmithout the others, whilst not departing. from l'the spirit of the invention. j

described my invention, I

1. In a universal joint, a pair ofiintermediate members drivably pivoted together for relative oscillation, driving and 'driven .members drivably pivoted respectively to said intermediate members onspaced apart axes normal to the first pivots and means for V,maintaining the; axes o f the driving and driven members in intersection substantially on the'ax's ofy the pivot betweenfthe inter-` mediate members. f-

the common axis'.-

4at the plane of axis normal to and spaced apart from the axis of the first said pivot, and a connection means between the-drive members for 'vrestra'ining the'same to iterse-ct `substantially in the mid-plane of thejointd L 4; In a luniversal joint having pivotally connected intermediate drive members -respectively pivoted tof a driving and driven member respectively, ameans for, maintainingtheintermediate members to b isect the angle between the shafts, comprising, relativelyqspaced apart pivots connecting each driving member to its intermediate member, and means to maintain the intersection ofthe 'shafts to be at a point intermediate-.of said spaced apart'axes.

5. In a universal joint, al driving member, a first intermediate member pivotedH for unitary 4rotation With-and relative-oscillation to thedriving member', aJdriven member, .a second intermediate member pivoted for unitary rotation with and relative oscilv lat-ion upon ,the driven member, said pivots being spaced apart axially of the joint. a pivotal vconnection between the intermedia-te members 4axially 'intermediate said Aspaced bers pivotally connected,'meas forvmain-` taining the intersectlon ofthe power members to..be substantially at the axis of saidf-P connection',- and pivotal connections between .apart pivots, and means adapted to restrain noi each intermediate member and the associated power member spaced apart axially of the power members, last -said connections being normal to the axis of the rstsaid pivotal connection. Y

7. A' unlversal joint comprising apa1r.of

rigid frames pivotall'y connected upon a common axis. pivot means on yeach frame rigidly maintained normal lto and spaced apa-rt from said axis, a pair of power members respectively pivoted to said '.'frames,

and means to maintain the intersection ot the 'power members. to lbe T 8. In a universal joint. a pairilof members-pivoted together andv rigidly carrying-,

'pivot means .normal to -and spaced rapart from the" first said pivot, power members' substantially at v engaging the last said pivot. means, the

' whole adapted to locate the power means center'or` the joint.

in an end-wise sense, incombination with. axially free supportlng means adapted to` maintain the axes of the dri-ving and drivenv membersin intersection substantially at the 9. In a device of the character described,

the combination of a pair of rotatable drivemembers adapted for relative angular displacement, a pair of frame members revspectively pivoted to the drive members at axially separated points thereon .and

mutually pivoted for relative oscillation on an axis disposed intermediatev and normal to the separated axes'of `their connection with the drive .membersfsaid drive members also' articulated together by a non-driving -connection :adapted to .maintain the axial intersection ef said members to be at a point substantiallyl central between their connections .with the .frame members and to permit axial displacement of the drive Vmembers relative to one4 another. 1 i

10. I/n a universal joint, a driving and a driven member, a pair of intermediate members' respectively pivoted in the -same plane to the driving and the. driven member at spaced apart points, said intermediate members pivoted together in a plane axially central between said spaced apart Ipoints and normal to the first said plane, and fflex- .of the power elements, the bearings in one4 of` said me rs engagmg the trunnions of another, lay first power element having trunnions engaging the bearings of one of the members and a second power element having bearings engaging the trunnions of the otherfof said members, in combination. with means 'Ufer articulately support-ing the connected ends -of the power-elements against lateral displacement. 4 12. In apparatus of 'the class described,

'the combination of, a' driving member provided ,with cross pins: and having a block mounted \for\ rotational freedom,- a driven member provided with bearings, an element having connection with said -driveiilmember and provided .with a 'portion adapted to engage said blockjso as vto restrain relative lat# 'i eral motion vof said members, a first intermediate member mounted. for oscillation-on thecross' pins of the'drivmg member, a seco nd intermediate member mounted for oscillatlon in the bearings of the drivenimember, and

a pivoted connection between the intermediate members.

13. In a universal joint'v having a pair of pivotally connected intermediate elements connected for oscillation. to a drivingf and driven member respectively, a supporting connection between said driving and driven members'comprisin a block mounted for rotational freedom-1n one of said members and engaged in a slidable fmanner by the other of'said members for the purpose of preventing relative'lateral displacement of -themembers whilst permitting limited axial displacement. v Y r 14. In apparatus of the class described, `a driving'member, a driven member, a pair of intermediate members to`which the driving and Adriven members are respectively pivoted at spaed apart points, ,a pivoted connection between the intermediate members disposed substantially vrcentral between and transaxially. to the pivots ofthe driving and driven members, an oscillatory connection between said drivingand driven members comprising a block mounted for rotational freedom in one of said members and engaged in a;slidable manner by the other of said members for the purpose of preventing relative lateral displacement whilst peremitting limited axial displacement of said driving and driven members. f

15. In" asuniversal joint including a driving and -driven member, a connection between said members within the joint and adapted to 'permit relative axial displacement and to restrain relative lateral movement of. the

.members, said connection comprising a block pivoted in the end of one ofthe -members and engaged by the other of said members.'

16. In apparatus of the classgdescribedt the combination-of a housing, al wheel carrying `member rotatably supported in said housing. a first intermediate member mounted for oscillation in the wheel carrying member by. a connection designated as (a), a second intermediate member mounted for oscillation in the first member by a connection designated as (b), a driving member mounted for oscillation -in the second said member by a connectionA designated as v(c), the connection b being midway between and transaxially disposed ofrthe said/connections a and c, a forked member mounted in a rotationally free manner in the wheel carrying member and co-axial therewith, a-

block-mounted in a rotationa lv free manner inthe driving member and shdably engaged by the forked member.

17. In apparatusof the .class described,"a driving member, a driven member. a air of intermediatqmembers t'o which the 1v1 ng and driven members are respectively pivoted at spaced apart pointsfa pivoted connection between the intermediate members i ll.

las l disposed subtantially central between and transxially of the pivots of the driving and block and mounted to be coaxial wi driven members, a means to restrain the driving and the driven members against lateral movement relative to one another said means comprising an' element pivoted to one of the members and engaged by the.

other of said members.

18. In a joint having a pair of pivotally connected intermediate members respectively connected to a dr1v1ng and a drlven member at spaced apart axes, means for maintainin the axes ofy f rotation of the driving ang driven lmembers to intersect at the centerof the joint said means comprising a cross pin in the driving member, a block freelymounted on the pin, ajaw engagingx the driven member Yand vfor relative Vrotation thereln.

.1.9. In a universal joint including a drivally mounted in the other of said members and adapted to be slidably engaged .by the first said element. `I

Signed at Keyport in the county of Monmouth, and State oi New Jersey this 6th day of January A: 1).1925.

ROLAND CHILTON. 

